Cat Hepatic Ascites: Symptoms and Causes
📝 Summary
Heart disease, tumors, liver disease, kidney disease, FIP, and other peritonitis causes can all lead to ascites in cats. Older cats more often have tumors; kittens more often right-heart failure; parasites are also possible.
1 Cat Hepatic Ascites: Symptoms and Causes
I. Symptoms: 1. Early signs are obvious abdominal distension, increased waistline, weight gain, and swollen limbs. 2. Right-sided pleural effusion is common, from ascites entering the chest via diaphragmatic lymphatics or valve openings. With large ascites the abdomen balloons, the wall is taut and shiny like a frogs belly, walking is difficult, and there is rapid breathing and umbilical hernia. Ascites with pleural effusion is mostly right-sided, from fluid entering the chest via muscle lymph nodes or valves, and is accompanied by liver failure.
II. Treatment: Hepatic ascites is very hard to treat. The following may at least extend life: enema with soapy water to clear intestinal waste, promote evacuation, expel toxins, and balance pH; under experienced guidance, draw off accumulated fluid with a syringe – carefully, only a little at a time, or the cat dies quickly. Keep the cat warm and hydrated, preferably with glucose water, and feed low-fat, high-protein food.
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